Stonehaven and Dunnottar without a car

If you only have time for one trip out of Aberdeen, Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle make a strong case. Everything is reachable by train and on foot, the walk is spectacular, and you finish by a harbour with somewhere to sit and eat.

Getting there

Trains run south from Aberdeen station to Stonehaven, and the journey is short. Stonehaven station is on the edge of town, so allow fifteen to twenty minutes to walk down to the centre and the seafront. Check return times before you leave, especially on Sundays.

The harbour

Start at the harbour, at the southern end of the town. The old Tolbooth stands on the quay, and the harbour walls are a good place to watch boats and the cliffs beyond. In summer, the town's Art Deco open-air pool on the seafront is a local landmark.

The clifftop path

From the harbour, follow the signed path that climbs south onto the cliffs. It passes the Stonehaven war memorial, a roofless circle of columns on a hilltop, which has wide views back over the town and bay. The path then continues along the clifftops, with fields on one side and the sea on the other, until Dunnottar comes into view on its rock. The walk takes around forty-five minutes to an hour each way at an easy pace, with some ups and downs.

At the castle

Dunnottar is reached by a steep path down to the neck of land and a long flight of steps back up to the gatehouse. Once inside, take your time among the ruins, and look out from the edges of the rock (keeping well back) to the seabirds below. Read our Dunnottar Castle page for its history and visitor notes. The castle may close in very high winds, so check its own website on the morning of your visit.

Back to town

Return the same way along the cliffs. Stonehaven has plenty of places for fish and chips, a café stop or a meal before the train back to Aberdeen.

What to bring

• Sturdy shoes — the path can be muddy, and the castle steps are uneven.
• A windproof layer, even in summer.
• Water and a snack, since there are few facilities on the cliff path itself.